St.
Anthony of Padua whose feast day is June 13th, was born in 1182 in
Portugal. At age 15, he entered an Augustinian seminary run by an elderly
priest, who was eventually excommunicated for sins including various forms of
sexual abuse.

Anthony later joined the Franciscans.

St. Anthony has long been the Patron Saint of the poor and “finder of lost
things”.

In 1994, while writing her book Saint Anthony Words of Fire, Life of
Light, author Madeline Pecora Nugent contacted Pastoral
Response Assistance Team Director Tom Carr who happens to be an expert in
sexual abuse. Madeline was considering including a chapter in her book
entitled Lesson From Our Fathers, which ultimately was not included in
the final printing. She sought Tom’s counsel in understanding sexual abuse,
which she later acknowledged, along with the work of Sister Katherine
Donnelly, when he book was first published in 1995.

In her research on St. Anthony of Padua, Madeline discovered that “sexual
abuse by the clergy has, unfortunately, been going on for centuries”. She also
found that St. Anthony spoke out against this abuse.

As a result Madleline began efforts to make Anthony the patron saint for
those effected by clergy sexual abuse. While she was distressed about the
fact that some were concerned that the association with the crisis would
somehow “tarnish” the reputation of St. Anthony, Madeline pointed out the
tremendous opportunity of having the “powerful intercessor” St. Anthony, to
help the church deal with this very real crisis, and the lost faith and trust
that had resulted from this abuse.

Slowly but surely the idea has gained some attention. Every once in awhile we
hear from reporters doing stories about this movement, and we are glad to talk
to them about this effort.